Clint Field: “I can’t believe what a great job our guys did getting the car”
Show your support.
Buzz this article up.
Oct 24, 2007
John Thawley
With the 2007 American Le Mans Series Championship now in the record books, hope springs eternal throughout the competitors’ paddock. And while their season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca may not have ended as they might have hoped, Intersport Racing, the Series’ perennial privateer team, symbolizes that renewed hope as they look forward to the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring in 2008.
The #37 Very Berry Exotics AER powered Lola LMP1 car performed well throughout the week. Having rebuilt the car after an incident at Petit Le Mans, the team had the car back up-to-speed and turning very competitive times.
“I can’t believe what a great job our guys did getting the car repaired and ready in time, ” acknowledge team owner and driver, Clint Field. “After the shunt at Road Atlanta, the car had to come right down to the tub. It’s unbelievable that the car was not only here and ready, but was extremely competitive. ”
Though Jon Field started the race with blistering lap times, the team couldn’t escape their recent string of bad luck.
“Dad [Jon Field] had a great first session, ” said Clint. “We were having a ball watching him tear up the track. When he came in for a driver change, we thought it would be best to double stint the tires thinking it might be better than sending Richard [Berry] out with cold tires. Unfortunately, the temperatures had dropped drastically, cooling enough to still catch Richard off guard. Unfortunately, he had a spin heading into turn 6. So, that ended the race and our season. ”
“Regardless, ” continued Clint, “we’re extremely pleased with the new car and we’re confident we’ll make more progress with it in the off-season. We’re planning several test sessions and we’ll do the Series’ Wheels Down test in the spring at Sebring. Believe me, we’re not down about this at all. Everyone is happy with the car and happy to be racing in the American Le Mans Series. We’re still having a ball! ”
Jon Field was recently acknowledged as being one of only three people who have competed in every season of the American Le Mans Series since its inception. Beginning with the 1998 Petit Le Mans, Field’s has competed in the Series both as a driver and a team owner. 2008 will mark the 10th season for the American Le Mans Series.
Earlier this week, the Series announced its 2008 television schedule. The Series introduced a key new network partner, welcomed back a long- standing network broadcast friend and reaffirmed its 10-year relationship with SPEED through its recently announced new three-year agreement with the motorsports network.
For the first time in Series history, ESPN on ABC will join the mix of network broadcasters and will feature “three-in-a-row” second quarter event coverage from venues in St. Petersburg, Long Beach and Houston. It is the first time in American Le Mans Series history that it will be so heavily exposed early in its season during the important second quarter sports viewing season.
“We could not have a better start to our season than these four races, “ said Scott Atherton, CEO/President of the American Le Mans Series, “and to add a new television partner like ABC with its ESPN brand certainly validates the prestige and growth of our Series. “
“We look forward to the opportunity to televise the American Le Mans Series and help it continue to grow, “ said Tag Garson, ABC senior director of programming and acquisitions. “We’re very pleased to be associated with this great American road racing series. “
In July, the Series returns to the airwaves of NBC Sports - the network of the Beijing Olympics next August - for the first time since 2004 from Mid-Ohio and the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (October) in the chase to its four-class championships.
“We at NBC believe that the American Le Mans Series is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sports entities across the board, “ said Jon Miller, NBC’s executive vice president of sports programming. “Our telecast from Mid-Ohio allows us to showcase one of America’s classic sports car courses just as the American Le Mans Series is gathering momentum going into the second half of its season. “
“The American Le Mans Series has become one of the marquee race series in America, “ said Gill Campbell, CEO/general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “It is certainly fitting that a premier network such as NBC recognizes the special event here in Monterey as we conclude the American Le Mans Series season. “
